184 



AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



At three we mounted and were off again, the rain still 

 falling. There were steep ravines to cross, slippery from 

 the wet; but we made good time, and soon after six off- 

 saddled on the farther side of a steep drift or ford in the 

 little Suavi River. It is a rapid stream flowing between 

 high, well-wooded banks; it was an attractive camp site, 

 and, as we afterward found, the nights were so cool as to 



make great camp-fires 

 welcome. At half-past 

 ten the safari appeared, 

 in excellent spirits, the 

 flag waving, to an accom- 

 paniment of chanting and 

 horn-blowing; and, to 

 their loudly expressed sat- 

 isfaction, the porters were 

 told that they should 

 have an extra day's ra- 

 tions, as well as a day's 

 rest. Camp was soon 

 pitched; and all, of every 

 rank, slept soundly that 

 night, though the lions 

 moaned near by. The 

 wagons did not get in 

 until ten the following 

 morning. By that time 

 the oxen had been nearly three days without water, so, by 

 dawn, they were unyoked and driven down to drink before 

 the drift was attempted, the wagons being left a mile or two 

 back. The approaches to the drift were steep and difficult, 

 and, with two spans to each, the wagons swayed and plunged, 

 over the twisted bowlder-choked trails down into the river- 

 bed, crossed it, and, with lurching and straining, men shout- 

 ing and whips cracking, drew slowly up the opposite bank. 

 After a day's rest, we pushed on, in two days' easy travel- 

 ling, to the Guaso Nyero of the south. Our camps were 



Every one rested under the fly-tent at noon in 



the trek through the thirst 

 From a photograph by Kermit Roosevelt 



